Quintessence of imperial cuisine

Hue imperial cuisine strikes a deep impression on us all with its refined presentation and exquisite visuals like a lively artificial painting, awakening our taste, olfactory and even visuals. As imperial delicacies are prepared, repetitive garnishing applies to the marinating, half-boiling point, before the fire is off and upon presentation so that the delicacies taste savory, pleasantly authentic and still freshly original.

Hue imperial cuisine is centered on the perception of the eight gourmets, or 8 rare delicacies exclusively dedicated to emperors and his mandarins. These days, Hue imperial cuisine has undergone substantial changes as some main ingredients purveyed from endangered animal species have now been replaced with more moderate, refined and equally nutritious ones. Peacock spring rolls and pheasant terrine are predominantly ranked first out of the eight gourmets. Peacock spring rolls are refrained from the fire, because the dish is cooked on its own owing to fermentation coupled with external interference of hot spices, notably lesser galangal, garlic or chili… Meanwhile, pheasant terrine has the pheasant pounded, garnished with condiments and uptight rolled with banana leaves, then steamed waterproof in a refined manner. Salanganes’ nest is distilled with rock candy or combined other medicinal herbs and lotus seeds to result in nutritious and appealing dishes, notably bird’s nest sweetie, bird’s nest sweetie with lotus seeds, steamed bird’s nest or pouched dove with bird’s nest… Meanwhile, longan and lotus seed sweetie is another nutritious drink that earns Hue its enviable culinary reputation. Longan and lotus seed sweetie is synonymous with gently sweet longan coupled with buttery and flaky lotus seeds together. Lotus seed steamed rice in Hue is another fascinating treat more than meets the eyes owing to its complete decoration of lotuses. Steamed rice is fully wrapped in green lotus leaves, and coated beneath fragrant lotus petals. Bright yellow and red shades of tubes and vegetables and other ingredients lend a mesmerizing and chilling aroma. Visitors to Hue should not miss out on and even pick some imperial tea home. The tea is a mixture of rare and highly healthy natural herbs.

To make the most of imperial delicacies, one may seek for Hue imperial restaurants to fully enjoy a full-course feast of the imperial court. Visitors may pick costumes of emperors, empresses, princesses or crown princes up to their taste before enjoying a proper, authentic imperial banquet. Gourmands are sure struck by the presentation, overall taste and enjoyment of these delicacies, draped in regal and elegant procedures. The decoration of the dining table is also fairly exquisite, from the arrangement of tissues, ladles to chopsticks and glasses… that adhere to stringent rules of the court. Furthermore, gourmands can also swing to melodious elegant court music of Hue during the banquet to make the most of the moment.

Van Bang

(Source: Vietnam Today 1.2022)